Cire perdue, Technique of
Ancient technique of bronze casting. Initially, the sculptor makes a plaster core, which has a slightly smaller size than the final sculpture. On this core, spreading a layer of wax, which is usually a true copy of the final project as it has captured and is surrounded by a heat-resistant mold. After melting the wax, from the special holes in the outer mold, the sculptor throws bronze cast, who occupies the position of the candle. Finally, after the congealable metal, are removed both the inner plaster core and the shell, allowing to be "grown" the (empty of course) bronze sculpture, that is a reproduction of the candle. This method is widely used not only in ancient Greece, Rome and the Renaissance (when there was a trend of revival), but also in the sculptures of cultures different from the European cultures, like the one of Benin.